Let’s talk about Marwan Barghouthi

The following is a letter I sent to the new Head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar

17 October 2021
To: Director of the Shin Bet, Mr. Ronen Bar

Subject: The Era After Abu Mazen and Preventing Hamas’ Rise in the West Bank

Dear Sir,
First, allow me to congratulate you on assuming the position of Director of the Shin Bet.
I am writing to you because you are expected to be free from political considerations and because, among other things, you also advise the Prime Minister and the government on matters of security significance.

The Palestinian public is fed up with the leadership of the Authority— in their eyes, they are all corrupt. Hamas’ popularity in the West Bank stems, among other things, from the disgust people feel toward those who put their personal interests before the national interests of the Palestinian people. It is true that Hamas leaders are also corrupt, but in the West Bank people suffer daily from the corruption of the Authority’s officials and see less of Hamas’ corruption.

According to all Palestinian public opinion polls, and from ongoing contact with the Palestinian public throughout the West Bank and among all sectors of society, it seems that the only person currently capable of gaining public trust— and perhaps even uniting the ranks between Fatah and Hamas— is Marwan Barghouti.

I would like to remind you of what the South African government did before the end of apartheid. South African security officials, together with the white minority leader, President Frederik Willem de Klerk, recognized that the prisoner and “terrorist” Nelson Mandela might be willing to speak secretly, from prison, with security and state officials about the approaching new era. Many talks were held between Mandela and the white leadership inside the prison, and ultimately understandings were reached that led to Mandela’s release and the birth of the new South Africa. While there are many differences between South Africa and Israel–Palestine, there is still something to learn from South Africa’s past.

Almost every Israeli politician who has taken part in discussions with Marwan Barghouti has testified that he is a leader— a man of values, honest and decent, who seeks peace with Israel and with whom understandings can be reached. When I headed the IPCRI Institute in the 1990s, I organized many meetings between Marwan and his colleagues from the Tanzim with Israeli politicians, mainly from Likud. We sat with them for hundreds of hours and discussed all the core issues. Marwan was a leader then and can lead again in the future.

Recently I asked Marwan’s lawyer whether Marwan still remains committed to peace with Israel, and he replied affirmatively. In my opinion, this requires verification, and I suggest examining it— first through a direct conversation between you and Marwan himself. Knowing that Abu Mazen has no plan for the post-Abu Mazen era, it would be unwise for Israel to sit idly by and wait to see what develops in our backyard. I suggest that you take the initiative and begin holding politically oriented talks inside the prison with Marwan, to explore the possibility of reaching understandings with him and his release from prison conditioned on progress in the proposed talks.

We know that Hamas may demand Marwan’s release from prison, as Haniyeh has promised Marwan’s wife. It is clear that Israel will not release him as part of a prisoner-exchange deal. If and when elections are held for a new Palestinian president, Marwan intends to run, and he could very well win. That situation would be quite uncomfortable for Israel. Yet Marwan Barghouti may be the key to stability, security, and opening new horizons between Israel and the Palestinians.

It would be a mistake to reject this idea outright and avoid considering this proposal while Abu Mazen is still in office and functioning.

Sincerely,

Gershon Baskin

The following is the answer that I received from Bar:

Dr. Baskin,

1. The Shin Bet works in a number of channels to try to preserve the stability in the Palestinian arena also in order to deal with “the day after”.
2. That, of course, without entering into the issue of internal Palestinian politics.
3. I would be happy to hear any new idea on this issue but I would like to remind you that Marwan Barghouthi was sentenced to life sentences for murdering Israelis and has not expressed regrets for his actions.

I wish you a good year.
Ronen Bar

Following this answer, I approached one of the former heads of the Shin Bet and asked if he would be willing to carry on a written correspondence with Marwan in order to determine if Marwan could potentially be the Palestinian leader who would lead the Palestinian people to peace with Israel. The former Shin Bet head agreed and informed Ronen Bar that he would be doing this. Ronen Bar asked to receive any interesting insights and input that comes from the correspondence. Marwan agreed and Marwan’s lawyer was the person who took care of the exchange of letters. The last exchange of letters took place in August 2023. Marwan’s last letter included a detailed plan for the two states solution including regional security and economic arrangements. I do not have permission to publish the letters, but I can say that Marwan’s last letter in the series was a clear indication that he still supported peace with Israel based on the two-states solution.

Since the beginning of the war, Ben Gvir’s Prison Authority has moved Marwan from prison to prison. He has been placed in solitary confinement for much of the past 2 years – often in the dark. He has been starved and physically abused. Marwan, like most of the security prisoners has been denied Red Cross visits, family visits, and even visits by his lawyer.

I know Marwan since 1996. He believe that he remains a strong Palestinian leader who can make peace with Israel. Marwan was arrested for leading the second intifada. He was the head of Fatah in the Palestinian Parliament. He was sentenced to five life sentences plus 40 years. He was indicted and convicted for being responsible for killing five people even though they had no direct evidence to prove it and Marwan didn’t actually kill any of them. Marwan refused to recognize the legitimacy of the court and the trial against him because he was a political leader and an elected parliamentarian. He is the most popular Palestinian leader for more than 20 years. He is a symbol of the Palestinian struggle for freedom and dignity. He speaks fluent Hebrew and English and has many friends in Israel of former Israeli leaders who believe that he should be freed.

For years I have tried to convince the Israeli side that it would be best for Israel and for Palestine if Marwan would be released as part of a political peace deal that would be negotiated with him while he is in prison. I said that it would be better for all if this were to happen rather than if Marwan would be released in a hostage deal with Hamas. Marwan was at the top of the list of prisoners submitted by Hamas, but it seems that Israel has refused to release him. In the past weeks I was in contact with Marwan’s family and I tried to convince the American side that Marwan’s release was important to the future of Israel and Palestine. I understand from the media that the Americans did ask Israel to include Marwan in the list of prisoners, but it seems that Israel removed his name.

If in fact Marwan will not be released, an Israeli, Palestinian, and international campaign should be organized to call for his release and although it will have no impact on the current irresponsible, right-wing irrational government of Israel, we can make this into a campaign issue in the next round of Israeli elections – if we gather enough local and international support.

For the sake of Israeli-Palestinian peace – Free Marwan.